Critique my light layout, 24W X 28D detach

[BigDaveZJ]

Getting ready to start putting lights in, want to make sure I have enough, but not too many.

My plan is to use the 8' Home Depot T8 strip lights that use 4x 4' lamps. Current layout calls for 8 of these in my shop. Ceilings are 11' high. Workbenches on the back wall. I've got 2 of the strips along the back wall over the benches. The other 6 are over the main area of the shop where I will be working on vehicles. 2 strips will be right down the center line of the shop spaced out roughly 5' off the back wall with a 1-2' gap between the fixtures, leaving a few foot gap at the front by the overhead door. I will mirror that layout 3-4' off of the side walls on each side.

I HATE having to work in the dark, but I also don't want to have to wear my sunglasses inside the shop so I'm trying to find that happy medium.

What say the masses?

 

[BigDaveZJ]

And all walls will be painted white.

 

[westonenterprises]

32 4' flourescent bulbs in a 24'x28' space seems like overkill, especially with the white walls. I ran 12 4' bulbs in an array kind of like what you're talking about in a 24'x14' space with plywood walls and the lighting was sufficient for just about everything. I had a droplight and a portable halogen that I used under vehicles at times while wrenching, but not often. Typically, the flourescents did the job just fine.

Over the bench, definitely. Over other areas you anticipate working, of course. But with white walls, you can probably drop down to 24 of the 4' bulbs and be just fine. Unless you're doing a lot of detailed work out there pretty often, I would probably invest the extra cash in a drop light or aimable halogen, which will put the light where you actually need it and save on the electric bill when you don't. You also could always start with 24 and add the other 8 down the middle when you decide that more light is required. Let us know how it goes, maybe post up some pics.